Cross 

Words 

Monthly Newsletter of Cross Ev. Lutheran Church 
	December 2010 	Volumel0,Issuel2 

How can I be happy when I'm busting my budget for Christmas? 

"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. " 
Psalm 118:26 

	

i., ••.. 

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." 
Perhaps you recognize these words from a famous 
song by Don Gardner. The main goal of the young 
child was to have his two front teeth so that he could 
wish you a Merry Christmas. It seems so simple, so 
stress-free, so undemanding. 

Do you remember a time like that? Do you remember 
a time when the world seemed so stress-free? Do you 
remember a time when life was so simple? 

Christmas is right around the comer. Signs of this 
have been noticeable for quite some time now. 
Christmas decorations have been in the stores for 
several months. Since Thanksgiving some radio 
stations have been playing Christmas music non-stop, 
reminding us of how many days we have left until 
Christmas. There's so much for all of us to do! 

Decorations! Parties! Presents! And children don't 
just ask for their two front teeth anymore. They want 
their X-Box 360, PS3, and IPods to keep them happy. 
But can I be happy when I'm busting my budget for 
Christmas? 

For help this Christmas season, remember this Bible 
verse from Psalm 118:26: "Blessed is he who comes 
in the name of the Lord" There was a time when God 
showed us something so simple, so stress-free, so 
undemanding. It happened about 2,000 years ago. 

Shepherds went to visit a newborn baby. No kings, no 
queens, no rulers-just lowly shepherds. And when 
they got there, this baby did not seem so special. No 
fancy hospitals, no doctors, no nurses. Just Mary and 
Joseph and their infant son Jesus wrapped in cloths 
and lying in a manger. So simple, so stress-free, so 
undemanding. 

And yet, here is the place where you find your answer 
when you seem to be busting your budget for 
Christmas. Do what the shepherds did! Go to 
Bethlehem this Christmas season. Look in the manger 
and see your Savior. 

No, you won't find some extra cash to restore a 
healthy balance in your checkbook. But you will find 
happiness for your soul. You will find a Savior who 
will never leave you. And you will find a Savior who 
will fill your spiritual checkbook with many blessings 
that can never be depleted. 

Because there ... you will find Jesus!